Tolaga Bay.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 9, 1 March 1916, Page 128

Tolaga Bay.

Vicar: Rev. G. M. Burnett, M.A , Z.Th. W© inadvertently missed sending notes for last month's number. December 19th, Wiremu Tureia was ordained deacon m Holy Trinity Church, Grisborne, for Maori work m this district. His people have welcomed him. m a real way by furnishing the Maori Vicarage, and now he is settling down to enthusiastic work. We hope for a great forward movement m the spititual work amongst our Maori brethren. December 20th, The Sunday School children and friends assembled at the Vicarage for the distribution of prizes won during the year. Mention' must be made of the splendid record made by the Farrell sisters — Ada, Hilda, itilla, and Daisy. They annexed all the possible prizes aaid had a very fair margin of marks above the other children. After the prizegiving the Vicar, on behalf of the scholars and Church people, presented Miss Pedersen with brush and comb, hand J baig, and purse, as a token of their gratitude to her ior her devoted and untiring work m the Sunday School. Miss Pedersen has been senior assistant teacher at the local public • school for four years and now holds a position on the staff of the Napier Main School. On Christmas Day we had hearty services and a record number of communicants —a practically every available one was present. January 6th, the Vicar left on a tour of the Panikaai and Coast districts, finishing with a bright service at Whangara on the following Sunday. Next, day he went into camp with the Boy Scouts on Mr Mackintosh's land at Broaidlands. It was an ideal camping spot. We had very

full days the whole time and' everybody enjoyed the training, experience and holiday. We thank very sincerely Mr and Mrs Mackintosh for their generosity. They contributed very largely to the success' of the camp. Our thanks are also due to other friends who sent us various gifts ;, to Captain Thompson and Mr B Lincoln for the loan of tents. Wednesday afternoon was visitors' day, when some thirty or forty parents and friends visited the camp, and were loud m their admiration of the manner m which the Scouts served afternoon tea. We had to strike camp on Thursday evening as the Scoutmaster (the Vicar) had to leave on Friday for the Ta>uwhareparae district. Through the kind Iness of Mr Reeves m placing fresh horses at his disposal, the Vicar was able to visit several scattered homes on the Saturday. Sunday afternoon saw a very hearty and bright service at Mr Reeves' woolshed. The Vicar reached Dooiiholm m time for a service on the lawn before dark. Many people from round about were present. Next morning there was a Celebration of Holy Communion, and then the Vicar left on a strenuous day's visiting and reached Maniga'ia-kera-u for Evensong and Confirmation class. Tolaga was reached at 1 1. 30 p.m. His Lordship the Bishop paidi us his annual visit at the end of January. Owing to the late arrival of the Napier boat, the Bishop had to abandon a private Confirmation of one of our candidates m Gisborne. He was escorted to Whangara by the Rev. Wiremu Tureia on Sunday, Jan* vary 30th. At 4 p.m. m the school three candidates were presented for Confirmation. It was a most impressive service ; the candidates and others present will not soon forget the Bishop's strong earnest appeal. Unfortunately, several of our country people were aiway ■ on holiday. At 6 p.m. there was a serv-ice for the Maoris at the Pah ; here the Bishop stayed the night and came on to the Vicarage at To-laga next day. On Tuesday evening he met the Maoris at Hauiti andi spoke on natters concerning Maori work. Wednesday morning, Mr C. E. S;uith motored) his Lordship, the Vi<:ar ar.d Mrs Barnett out to Doonnojn to fcunch with Mr and) Mrs Ca Id well, who gathered between sixty and. seventy people together to meet the Bishop m the afternoon. We had an opem-air service at 3 p.m. with an address by the Bishop. Afternoon tea was damped somewhat by a heavy shower of rain, but a/11 were most cheerful withal. The car was quite equal to the slippery hills', and we soon ran into dusty roads agam. On Friday afternoon there was a small gathering, of people to meet the Bishop ; rain prevented the open-

air gathering at the Vicarage, and no doubt affected the attendance at the hall. In the evening 'the Bishop gave a stirring address at the weekly Intercession Service' for the war. Sunday,- February 6th, was a very boisy day for his Lordship. He celebrated a)t the Parish Church at 8 a.m., had services with the Maoris at 10.30 a.m., Confirmation at the Parish Church at 3 p.m., and preached at Evensong at ,7 p.m. Bight candidates were 1 presented for Confirmation 1 , two others had 'to leave for Nelson College a week before, and one was delayed in 1 the boat from Auckland., while several withdrew at the last moment owing to outside influence. It is extraordinary that anyone dare.ti'y undermine the faith of young people, and yet this has been done m Tolaga. The Bishop's addresses were wionderfully earnest and telling : " Ye shall be My witnesses," was his theme m the afternoon and " What wilt Thou have me to do, Lord ? " m the evening. There were good gatherings of country people at each service, but the township people were rather conspicuous by their absence. Next day was taken up by a " Hui " at Puketawai, and' m the evening the Bishop met the Vestry at tbe Vicarage arid put before it several important matters. Tuesday afternoon we travelled via Manigaheia to Mangatokerau where, m the everting 1 , the Bishop confirmed the candidate who returned from Auckland, and also admitted another into the Church. We stayed the night and were the guests of Mrs Maurice Fitzgerald. Next morning the Bishop addressed the children, and after lunch we left for the Wadpiro district. The Rev. G. D. Wilson met us at the boundary of the two districts. Here the Vic a r left the Bishop and returned home. On the following Saturday the Vicar left for the Waimata and was unfortunate m having another wet Sunday for services there. So we had to be content with small gatherings. Next time we hope for fine weather and a full gathering of the people. Several families are leaving o>r have left Tolaiga lately. We welcome Miss Ellice, of Waipiro, as one of our School teachers. On. January 6th, Miss Ada Dobson was married to George Mclntosh, of OriK.ond, and has left this district. On January 21st, Alden Williams, the second 1 son of Mr and Mrs F. J. Williams, of Waipare, passed away at Gisborne after an operation for appendicitis. His body was laid to rest on the homestead .the following Sunday. Mr and Mrs Williams have our deepest sympathy m the loss of such a bright, promising little son. He is not lost but only removed from our sight to serve his G-od m a higher sphere. . ,